Wade Hampton II (April 21, 1791 – February 10, 1858) was an American politician, plantation owner, and soldier in the War of 1812. He was a member of the Hampton family, whose influence was strong in South Carolina politics and social circles for nearly 100 years. Early life and education Hampton was born in Columbia, South Carolina, the son of General Wade Hampton I (1752–1835) and Harriet Flud. He was educated privately in his early years. Slave owner He served in the military during the War of 1812, becoming a lieutenant of dragoons in 1813. He served as acting inspector general and aide to General Andrew Jackson at New Orleans in 1815. As an adult, Hampton attended mostly to his extensive holdings, as his numerous plantations and houses in two states, overseers and managers, and thousands of slaves, all required extended management. He had several plantations in Issaquena County, Mississippi, where he held a total of 335 slaves by 1860, as well as properties in South Carolina and his summer home in the western mountains of North Carolina. Marriage and family Hampton married Ann Fitzsimmons on March 6, 1817, from a wealthy family in Charleston, South Carolina. They had several children, as listed: Wade Hampton III (born March 28, 1818, in Charleston, South Carolina, died April 11, 1902, in Columbia, South Carolina); Christopher Fitzsimmons Hampton (born August 11, 1821, on Millwood Plantation, Richland County, South Carolina, died June 8, 1886, on Linden Plantation, Washington County, Mississippi); Harriet Flud Hampton (born April 16, 1823, on Millwood Plantation, Richland County, South Carolina, died June 2, 1848, on Millwood Plantation); Catharine P. Hampton (born November 24, 1824, on Millwood Plantation, died August 10, 1916, in Columbia, South Carolina); Ann M. Hampton (born September 7, 1826, on Millwood Plantation, died May 5, 1914, in Columbia, South Carolina); Caroline Louisa Hampton (born January 25, 1828, on Millwood Plantation, died 1902 in Richland County, South Carolina); Frank Hampton (born June 19, 1829, on Millwood Plantation, died June 9, 1863, at Brandy Station, Culpeper County, Virginia); Mary Fisher Hampton (born January 13, 1833, on Millwood Plantation, died December 12, 1866, Richland County, South Carolina). Hampton's sister-in-law Catherine Fitzsimmons, a shy girl, at age 17 married James Henry Hammond, making him a wealthy man with her large dowry. He eventually owned more than 20 square miles of property and hundreds of slaves through wealth gained by this marriage.